transformers : Autobots

The Autobots are the heroes in one of the world's most successful cartoon and toy lines, The Transformers. The animated series had the Autobots created by the five-face Quintessons as consumer products, however the machines rebel from their assigned roles in indentured servitude.

The Autobots defeat the Quintessons only to be challenged by the military hardware the Quintessons also produced, the violent Decepticons

Bot of the Month

Prowl

Prowl is one of the most intelligent Autobots, he has the ability to analyze any combat situation instantaneously. Prowl can observe 800 moving objects, compute their probable paths of movement, and determine the proper countermove in 0.05 seconds. From his shoulder cannons he can shoot wire guided incendiary missiles that reach temperatures of 12,000 degrees Centigrade upon explosion., He also carries a semi-automatic rifle that shoots pellets filled with a highly corrosive acid. Its range is 300 yards.

Ultimate 'Bot

Optimus Prime

The quintessential Transformer, in the cartoon's mythos Optimus Prime was originally named Orion Pax. He admired the Decepticons before becoming aware of their plans to rule with an iron fist. Just prior to the first Cybertronian Civil War, Orion was critically injured in a Decepticon attack. Transfered into a new body by Alpha Trion, he was renamed Optimus Prime. Soon afterwards, he became the trusted Autobot Leader.

Optimus Prime has existed and returned in different variations throughout the 20 plus years of The Transformers.

transformers

Transformers Original Animated Series

Origins:
The Transformers originated in 1982 when the Japanese toy company Takara had a few toylines with transforming robots called Diaclone and Microchange (the latter a subset of another toyline called New Microman).

In 1983 Hasbro decided to import and market these toylines in America under the name The Transformers, and made a deal with Marvel Comics to develop a story for the toyline. Marvel's Jim Shooter and Denny O'Neill developed the treatment and a few characters, but the bulk of the characters were named and developed by Bob Budiansky, who would eventually become the first editor and later on the writer on the Transformers comic book. Bob developed almost all of the first five or six years' worth of characters.

The toyline was launched in early 1984, with the comics starting in May and the cartoon in September. Driven by evolving storylines and distinct characters, The Transformers remains one of the most entertaining animated series.